"The sad fact is that our nation is simply not prepared to handle a major flu outbreak, let alone a pandemic. Since 2000, we have experienced three shortages of seasonal influenza vaccine. While it is welcome news that the Administration is focused on vaccine research and stockpiling in the event of a pandemic flu, the question is – how will the Administration handle distribution and communications with a system that has failed to meet seasonal flu vaccine demands in three out of the last five years?

The President's plan calls for us to develop credible distribution mechanisms and prioritize countermeasure allocation for at-risk populations. We already prioritize allocation for seasonal flu vaccine, and yet we're still not able to get it to all the seniors who need it. We must establish a tracking system, like the one called for in the Influenza Vaccine Security Act I introduced earlier this year with Senator Pat Roberts, that would allow the federal government, working with state and local health departments, to track vaccine from the factory to the clinic so all Americans know where local vaccine supplies are, particularly when a pandemic hits.

Last fall’s flu vaccine shortage should have been a wake up call to the problem we will have on our hands when a pandemic strikes if we fail to address this critical public health challenge. Confusion and even panic broke out in some communities with people scrambling to get vaccines, while supplies went unused and unaccounted for in other areas. We can only assume that similar confusion and panic will occur in the event of a pandemic flu if this Administration fails to take steps to fix our domestic public health delivery and communications system now. The fact is that this Administration has not supported necessary funding to repair our broken public health infrastructure, to enable our state and local health departments to not only combat the threat of pandemic influenza, but the real-life conditions which they face every day. They need to step up to the plate and start supporting critical needs now.

One positive step forward would be for the Administration to support our legislation to ensure that fundamental fixes are made to our vaccine delivery system so we are able to adequately handle seasonal flu vaccine needs, as well as a flu pandemic. If we are to be prepared for the worst, we need to take first things first. We need a system that works. This Administration needs to understand that in the case of the flu, an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure."

From where the air is thicker: (http://www.americanthinker.com/comments.php?comments_id=3548)
Hillary attacks - and ignores her own culpability

Hillary Clinton responded to President Bush’s plans to prepare for a possible avian fluy crisis by attacking the shortages of vaccines that have occurred under his Administration and, of course, by criticizing* Bush for tardiness in taking the steps he has taken so far. Left unsaid by Hillary was her key role a few years ago in ensuring that America would develop a vaccine crisis.

The Wall Street Journal*highlighted ($link) “Hillary’s Vaccine Shortage” years ago. Her Vaccines for Children program, a pet project undertaken while she was the First Lady, has been especially destructive. That program put the Federal Government in the role of buyer for a huge percentage of all private vaccines, and it has used its monopsony clout to drive prices down to unprofitable levels for vaccine manafacturers.Thirty years ago, there were 25 companies producing vaccines for the US market. Now only 5 remain, and for some critical vaccines only one manafcaturer has been left standing after suffering the depredations from Hillary’s plan. The National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine, a non-partisan group, directly blamed Hillary Clinton years ago for the vaccine crisis.**Tort lawyers, a prime consitutency and money source for the Democratic Party, have also taken their “fair share” from drug companies by repeatedly attacking drug companies for purportedly flawed vaccines. Tort lawyers, with a handy assist by the “crusading” (and wrong) Robert Kennedy, Junior, have also used the fictitous crisis regarding the harmless vaccine additive thimerosal to browbeat vaccine makers.*Ed Lasky** 11 02 05

LWW

Drop1

10-15-2007, 07:11 PM

Have you received a call from the White house,I'm sure you would show them how to get the flu pandemic solved. I sleep better at night,knowing you are asleep.

pooltchr

10-15-2007, 07:20 PM

I sleep better at night knowing Hillary is out on the campaign trail. Her ability to screw us is much more limited when she is outside the beltway.
Steve

bamadog

10-15-2007, 08:16 PM

Great example of ignoring the laws of supply and demand, and thereby destroying the marketplace. If Hillary is elected this is only the tip of the iceburg.

wolfdancer

10-15-2007, 08:22 PM

She'll soon be back at her former address 1600 Penn.
and her and Bill will be staying up late at night, trying to figger out how to redistribute yer wealth..
She'll be a Godsend after 8 years of fiscal failure, at the hands of a so-called conservative. Never have the few profited so much at the expense of the many.
Will she raise your taxes...absolutely...how else to pay for GWB's mistakes?
As Alan Greenspan said the other night...Congress gave him a blank check....then got mad, because he cashed it.
Too bad we can't vote in an entirely new congress at the same time as we rid ourselves for good, of any Bush ever again seeking that high office. Sure the Dems have a slim majority....but I'd be all for a clean sweep of the rubber stampers that sold their vote, and sold out America, for the prestige of a committee seat. ****Judas congress.....
While you guys oppose any national healthcare...fact is we have a de facto free health care system already, that is facing a crisis....the emergency rooms of many hospitals are overcrowded with non emergency patients, who have no med ins, and can't afford any.
When you think about it, the Clinton's having a great chance to return to power, after the right tried to bury them...and then try to imagine the Decider having a shot down the road.....The first half of that daily double would be even money....but the winning ticket would pay a half million to one.
I wouldn't pay to see the inauguration of Hillary...but I would pay to see GWB ride off into the sunset...never to be heard of again....unless he was offered immunity for his testimony......

LWW

10-16-2007, 03:34 AM

And not a single neoleftist will comment on the point.

Pathetic.

LWW

pooltchr

10-16-2007, 04:30 AM

Godsend????
Hillary's national healthcare plan will cost a fortune, and the quality of our healthcare will deteriorate. Look at Canada for an example.
As the system falls apart, the wealthy will simply pay for private healthcare, leaving the poor and middle class to live with the government system. As more opt out, the cost per person for providing healthcare will increase.
I just don't see this as a good thing.
You are absolutely correct that she will continue to look for new ways to redistribute the wealth. I'm not too sure that this kind of thinking would be good for the free enterprise system out economy is built upon. If you tell someone they can't keep that which they work for, what is the motivation to work at all?
Steve

LWW

10-16-2007, 04:45 AM

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote pooltchr:</font><hr> Godsend????
Hillary's national healthcare plan will cost a fortune, and the quality of our healthcare will deteriorate. Look at Canada for an example.
As the system falls apart, the wealthy will simply pay for private healthcare, leaving the poor and middle class to live with the government system. As more opt out, the cost per person for providing healthcare will increase.
I just don't see this as a good thing.

Steve <hr /></blockquote>
It doesn't matter. The congress will be on a different plan...and if all else fails just blame Bush.

LWW

LWW

10-16-2007, 04:48 AM

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote pooltchr:</font><hr> Godsend????If you tell someone they can't keep that which they work for, what is the motivation to work at all?
Steve <hr /></blockquote>
And sense comes into this where?

Lower taxes bring higher revenue. You would think that's what we all want, right?

Not if the goal is political power. The more the economy is dragged down then the more people have to count on the state to survive...and keeping the people subservient and ignorant is the long term goal of both parties.